Food caddy

ABSTRACT

A food caddy device that allows the user to easily carry multiple sets of plates, bowls, and glassware with one hand, with no risk of spillage or alteration in appearance. The food caddy includes a support bracket, a plurality of trays vertically spaced on the support bracket, and a handle having a first section mounted on each one of the trays and a second section connected to the support bracket. The second section of the handle is connected at an angle with respect to the first section of the handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to food carriers. More particularly, the present invention relates to food carriers adapted to hold a plurality of serving plates or glassware.

During a normal restaurant operation, food is prepared in the kitchen, set up on individual serving plates, and later transported in serving trays to the dining table. Unfortunately the known serving trays are bulky, difficult to maneuver, and have limited capacity. In addition, it is very common for the food to spill or move around the serving plate placed on the serving tray during the transportation to the dining table. This results in unhappy clients and losses for the restaurant owner.

As can be seen, there is a need for an easy to hold food carrier having greater capacity and efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a food caddy includes a support bracket, a plurality of trays vertically spaced on the support bracket, and a handle having a first section mounted on each one of the trays and a second section connected to the support bracket, and the second section of the handle is connected at an angle with respect to the first section of the handle.

In another aspect of the present invention, a food caddy includes a tray, a handle secured to the tray, a plurality of brackets secured to the tray and encircling the handle, each bracket includes sidewalls vertically rising from the tray, the handle includes a first section mounted on the tray and a second section, and the second section of the handle is connected at an angle with respect to the first section of the handle.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective front view of a food caddy according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention showing the food caddy in use;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective front view of the food caddy of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the food caddy of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective front view of a food caddy according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention showing the food caddy in use;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective front view of the food caddy of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective front view of a food caddy according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention showing the food caddy in use; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective front view of the food caddy of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a food caddy device that allows the user to easily carry multiple sets of plates, bowls, and glassware with one hand, with no risk of spillage or alteration in appearance.

FIGS. 1-3 show a food caddy 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The food caddy 10 may include a support bracket 11, a plurality of trays 16 vertically spaced on the support bracket 11, and a handle 12 having a first section 14 perpendicularly mounted on the plurality of trays 16 and a second section 15 connected to the support bracket 11.

The support bracket 11 may be made of a sturdy material, for example, high density polyethylene (HDPE), metal, composite material, polymer, or wood. The support bracket 11 may have a U-shape. The size of the support bracket 11 may depend on the number of trays 16. In some embodiments, the support bracket 11 may have a width of approximately two inches, a depth of approximately one-quarter inch, a vertical length of approximately twelve inches, and a horizontal length of approximately eleven inches.

The trays 16 may be mounted on the support bracket 11 in vertical alignment to one another. The vertical space between the trays 16 may be, for example, approximately three inches. The trays 16 may be adapted to receive and hold a plate 20. The trays 16 may be made of the same material of the support bracket 11. The trays 16 may have a U-shape. Each tray 16 may include a first arm 16 a, a second arm 16 b, and a middle arm 16 c placed between the first arm 16 a and the second arm 16 b. The size of the trays 16 may depend on the size of the plates 20. In some embodiments, the trays 16 may have a length of approximately eleven inches and a width of approximately eleven inches. The trays 16 may include sidewalls 13 and stoppers 19 on each end. The sidewalls 13 and the stoppers 19 may form gripping surfaces to prevent the plates 20 from moving out of the trays 16. The side walls 13 may rise from the tray 16, for example, by approximately one inch. The stoppers 19 may be an angle with respect to the trays 16. In some embodiments, the angle may be between 30° and 90°.

The handle 12 may be made of the same material as the support bracket 11. The handle 12 may have a cross-sectional area having a geometrical shape, for example, a circle of approximately one inch in diameter. The size of the handle 12 may depend on the number of trays 16. For example, the first section of the handle 14 may be approximately twelve inches in length and the second section 15 may be approximately 10 inches in length. The first section 14 of the handle 12 may be perpendicularly mounted on the center section of the trays 16 opposite to the open end of the trays 16. The second section 15 of the handle 12 may be connected at an angle with respect to the first section 14 of the handle 12. The angle may be, for example, 90°.

Legs 18 may be placed on the lowest positioned tray 16. The number of legs 18 may depend on the size of the food caddy 10. For example, the food caddy 10 may include four legs 18 of approximately a half-inch in height.

A gripping surface 13 may be placed on the handle 12 to help in grasping the food caddy 10.

FIGS. 4-5 illustrate a food caddy 26 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The food caddy 26 may be made of the same material as the food caddy 10. The food caddy 26 may be designed to carry a plurality of bowls 22. The trays 28 may have a U-shape similar to the trays 16 with arms forming an interior arc pattern. The arc pattern may help to better retain the bowls 22. The size of the arc pattern may depend on the size of the bowls 22. For example, the arc pattern may include a maximum diameter of approximately five inches. The vertical space between the trays 28 may be, for example, four inches. The trays 28 may be made of the same material as the support bracket 11. Each tray 28 may include a first arm 28 a, a second arm 28 b, and a middle arm 28 c placed between the first arm 28 a and the second arm 28 b. The size of the trays 28 may depend on the size of the bowls 22. In some embodiments, the trays 28 may have a length of sixteen inches and a width of nine inches.

FIGS. 6-7 illustrate a food caddy 30 according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The food caddy 30 may be designed to carry a plurality of glassware 24. The food caddy 30 may be made of the same material as the food caddy 10.

The food caddy 30 may include a tray 32, a handle 12 secured to the tray 32, and a plurality of brackets 34 secured to the tray 32 and encircling the handle 12. The brackets 34 may include sidewalls 36 vertically rising from the tray 32. The size of the brackets 34 may depend on the size of the glassware 24. The brackets 34 may have a geometrical shape. For example, the brackets 34 may have a circular shape with a diameter of approximately 3½ inches. The sidewalls 36 may rise, for example, approximately three inches from the tray 32. The size of the handle 12 may depend on the size of the food caddy 30. For example, the first section 14 of the handle 12 may have approximately ten inches in length and the second section 15 of the handle 12 may have approximately five inches in length.

The food caddy 10 may provide the user with an easy way to transport food and beverages from the point of preparation to the dining table.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A food caddy comprising: a support bracket, a plurality of trays vertically spaced on the support bracket, wherein each tray includes a first arm, a second arm, and a middle arm placed between the first and second arm; and a handle having a first section mounted on each one of the trays and a second section connected to the support bracket; wherein the second section of the handle is connected at an angle with respect to the first section of the handle.
 2. The food caddy according to claim 1, wherein the support bracket has a U-shape.
 3. The food caddy according to claim 1, wherein the trays have a U-shape and include sidewalls rising from the arms.
 4. The food caddy according to claim 3, further including a first stopper placed on a free end of the first arm and a second stopper placed on a free end of the second arm, wherein the first and second stoppers form an angle with respect to the trays.
 5. The food caddy according to claim 1, wherein the first section of the handle is perpendicularly mounted on the middle arm of each tray.
 6. The food caddy according to claim 1, further including a gripping surface attached to the handle.
 7. The food caddy according to claim 3, wherein the first arm, the second arm and the middle arm includes an interior arc pattern.
 8. A food caddy comprising: a tray; a handle secured to the tray; and a plurality of brackets secured to the tray and encircling the handle; wherein each bracket includes sidewalls vertically rising from the tray; wherein the handle includes a first section mounted on the tray and a second section; wherein the second section of the handle is connected at an angle with respect to the first section of the handle.
 9. The food caddy according to claim 8, wherein the brackets have a circular shape. 